MICK McCarthy will go back to his roots tonight as Sunderland kick off their domestic pre-season campaign at Barnsley.

The Black Cats flew back into England on Friday after rounding off their 11-day tour of the United States with a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Wilmington Hammerheads. Tonight's game involves considerably less travelling and, for McCarthy in particular, the trip to Oakwell will take him much closer to home.

The Sunderland boss was born and bred in the South Yorkshire mining town and still harbours a deep emotional attachment to his former home. For the club's players, this evening's friendly will be about continuing to build up their fitness ahead of August 7's Coca-Cola Championship opener at Coventry.

But, for McCarthy, it will be more of a stroll down memory lane as he revisits the scene of some of his former glories.

"Going to Barnsley will be special for me because I played there for a long time," said McCarthy, who still hopes to have another striker on board by the time his side travel to Highfield Road next month. I was born in Barnsley and I love the place. Barnsley is where I am from and that club is my team.

"I'm looking forward to it - of course I am - and I still know a lot of people there. I played 272 league games for the club and I like to think that I contributed a lot to Barnsley. Likewise, the club contributed a lot to my career. It was a great place to start as a young player, we had three promotions and did well at the time.

"I'd like to think that I will get a warm welcome - I will be disappointed if I don't.

"Why did we pick Barnsley? I look for good games in pre-season and that's what we will get. There will be a good surface, there will be a good crowd and it should be a good match because any team managed by Paul Hart likes to play football."

Sunderland's football was much improved on Wednesday night as goals from Stephen Wright, Jeff Whitley and Neil Teggart earned the first win of their American tour. Their two previous games had ended in frustration but, with temperatures soaring into the high 90s, the trip was more about physical conditioning than success on the pitch.

Conditions at Oakwell will be more conducive to a high-tempo game, and McCarthy is confident Sunderland's fans will see the benefits of the US tour as they get a first glimpse of his new-look squad.

"We will certainly be fitter after America," he said. "And now we're looking forward to playing games which will be more like the games we will be playing once August 7 comes around."

McCarthy will be without new signings Liam Lawrence and Mark Lynch this evening after the duo both suffered injury set-backs last week.

Lawrence has torn his ankle ligaments and will miss the start of the season, while Lynch suffered a dead leg in only his second training session after moving from Manchester United.

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